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Our Fears Ahead 2019 Polls, by Christians

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday raised the alarm on desperation of politicians ahead of the 2019 general elections saying it was a sign of danger.

The President, CAN, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, said if something urgent was not done to curtail such desperation, it could set the country on fire.

Ayokunle, who spoke when he paid a courtesy call on the Bayelsa State Government, at the Government House, Yenagoa, also appealed to politicians to stop the violence and killings across the country.

CAN President, who was received by the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Real Admiral John Jonah (rtd), said the church was on its knees praying seriously for God to rule over the affairs of Nigeria ahead of the election.

He said: “We are also parlaying with those in government, who can make things happen. Nigeria has to maintain peace and order to ensure free and fair election in 2019.

“From the intra-party election, the kind of desperation we see in our politician is quite unacceptable and give us palpable fear that if care is not taken, the people may set the nation on fire, God forbid.

“The church says no to any kind of violence and manipulation in this forthcoming election. And in line with that, we are not only speaking, we have decided to register with INEC as election observers”.

He disclosed that CAN was training election observers to monitor the conducts of the forthcoming polls adding that it had already trained 300 monitors.

He said: “We are already training observers all over the federation. We have trained over 300 persons presently from all the geopolitical zones of the country and these ones will train others.

“It is our own hope that we will be able to place three observers in each polling booth so they will continue to report to us at the national office. I and my team will be visiting President Muhammadu Buhari, next week, to discuss the conduct of the election”.

Ayokunle, also called on the Federal Government and the security agencies to arrest persons involving in killings across the country including armed herdsmen.

“All the herdsmen that are committing the crime must be brought to book. If they are not arrested that means they are being encouraged to continue in their evil ways,” he said.

The CAN boss described the 15,000 seater Ecumenical Centre built by Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, as a masterpiece.

He said that the edifice surpasses the Abuja Ecumenical Centre built by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and solicited for good maintenance culture to preserve it for future generations.

He requested the state government to allocate land to CAN to enable it build a secretariat for the Bayelsa Baptist Conference.

He demanded completion of access roads to the Baptist Centre at Iyambiri-Zarama in Yenagoa Local Government Area, completion of a hospital and health centre under construction as well as provision of medical equipment in the area.

While appreciating Dickson for appointing clergymen into positions of trust in his administration, Ayokunle prayed God to give him the wisdom, good health and foresight to continue his developmental projects in the state.

He also used the occasion to commiserate with the governor on the death of his mother, Mrs. Goldcoast Dickson, who died of cancer in the USA.

In a remark, Deputy Governor, John Jonah said churches made tremendous contributions to the development, peace and stability in the country.

He appreciated the CAN leadership for the visit, noting that Bayelsa state is a Christian state with a Thanksgiving Day backed by law to appreciate God.

He added that CAN’s request for land, among several others would be conveyed to Governor Dickson.

He charged the clergy to continually pray for Bayelsa state and the country at large in view of the myriad of challenges facing the nation.